Reviewed by Mike Rimmer

After her last album spawned a couple of hit singles in the UK and USA and led to her becoming a big star in the Far East, you would have thought that Stacie Orrico would be chomping at the bit to follow it up. Instead Orrico, now 20, took some time out from the music business to live a normal life working in a seafood restaurant. Now the follow up has been recorded for Virgin and like its predecessor is packed with the R&B pop that is so familiar of her style, all topped by her excellent voice. It's crammed with songs of romance, like the first single "I'm Not Missing You" and "Easy To Love You". There's a celebration of family on "So Simple" and an encouragement to single mothers on "Babygirl". Standouts for me are the funky "Take Me Away" with its nods to '70s soul and the easy groove of "I Can't Give It Up". As always Orrico is superb vocally and I particularly love the ballad "Wait" where she lets loose with some emotional singing. Whilst not as immediate and poppy as her last release, this new slightly more mature approach suits her just fine. But if you want 'Beautiful Awakening' you'll really have to search it out. I bought my copy in Australia and with Stacie having left Virgin, this isn't getting released in the USA or the UK!

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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